Auburn hosts Form-Based Code Open House on Aug. 15

After seeking public input last year, the city of Auburn is bringing its form-based code work back into the public eye next week as it previews its work to date. The city will host a Form-Based Code Open House from 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at city council chambers, 1225 Lincoln Way. A form-based code is a means of regulating land development to achieve a specific urban form. The zoning regulation focuses on the physical form and characteristics of a building or public space rather than land use and density. Auburn has been working toward implementing a form-based code for a few years and the results of its work is now being brought before the public. The open house will begin with a presentation showing the differences between current zoning ordinances and what the city is proposing. The event will then open up into a charrette-style event where people can go around the room and speak with different staff members and consultants to ask questions about the form-based code proposal. "This is a meeting to vet the things we have come up with," said Jonathan Wright, community and economic development director for Auburn. "It's an open discussion to reveal what is in the form-based code and figure out a way to soften or change anything the community might react to." The open house meeting is just the start of moving the form-based code toward eventual approval. "We want to make sure we cover all our bases and get as much input as we can," Wright said. "We feel pretty good about the direction we are heading with all of this." Wright said the city will give an introductory presentation to the Planning Commission of a draft of the code itself as an information item only on Aug. 20. He said the city plans to bring it to a public hearing at the Planning Commission on Sept. 17. Based on their recommendation, the form-based code work should come back to council in October. For more information on the Open House, visit auburn.ca.gov.